A-50 Mainstay vs Il-80
| Russian airborne early warning and control aircraft, developed during the Cold War to extend radar coverage and coordinate air operations across vast distances. | |
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| Origin country | 🇷🇺 Russia |
| Category | Military Special Mission Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Beriev |
| First flight | 19 December 1978 |
| Year of introduction | 1985 |
| Number produced | 42 units |
| Average unit price | $300 million |
| Soviet airborne command post, designed during the Cold War, most notably deployed in strategic air command scenarios. | |
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| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| Category | Military Special Mission Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Ilyushin |
| First flight | 5 March 1987 |
| Year of introduction | 1992 |
| Number produced | 4 units |
| Average unit price | $-- million |
| Wing area | 300.0 m² |
| Wingspan | 50.6 m â—‰ |
| Height | 14.8 m |
| Length | 46.6 m â—‰ |
| Maximum speed | 850 km/h |
| Operational range | 7,500 km |
| Service ceiling | 15,500 m â—‰ |
| Max. takeoff weight | 190,000 kg â—‰ |
| Empty weight | 61,000 kg |
| Total thrust | 4 x 12,000 kgf â—‰ |
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| Wing area | -- m² |
| Wingspan | 48.1 m â—‰ |
| Height | -- m |
| Length | 59.5 m â—‰ |
| Maximum speed | -- km/h |
| Operational range | -- km |
| Service ceiling | 11,000 m â—‰ |
| Max. takeoff weight | 208,000 kg â—‰ |
| Empty weight | -- kg |
| Total thrust | 4 x 13,000 kgf â—‰ |
Performance Radar Chart
Photo of Il-80 by Dmitry Terekhov.